14 DAY TRIAL // After it maxed out on its pre-orders for Collector's Edition and after it also maxed out on the hype counter that's sitting on my desk, here at Softpedia, Age of Conan has finally reached gamers. And, after a weekend of playing, most people seem content with the game, even if the occasional bug is still to be found here and there.
Funcom is claiming in a press release that the game has already sold 400,000 copies, we presume in addition to those that were already sold through pre-orders and other promotions. It seems that some of the retail chains that are selling the game are even reporting back to Funcom that stocks are very low or exhausted. It really seems that the launch is a success, as the company claims that the game is one of the "fastest selling in the history of PC gaming."
Trond Arne Aas, Chief Executive Officer at Funcom, has stated that "The initial sales and reviews are very encouraging, and it's great to see that so many are enjoying Age of Conan. This is just the beginning, and we already look forward to massive updates and cool new features. We believe our focus on making Conan unique and groundbreaking is a key reason for the initial success. This is a focus we will keep and reinforce, and players can expect continued quality and innovation as we enter a new era for the game."
Given the amount of coverage that the game received from the gaming press, it's no surprise that initial sales are good. Of course, the nature of the game, a MMO with a barbarian theme, featuring women with little clothing on, massive beasts and ferocious foes, guarantees a continued interest from gamers.
However, as the initial enthusiasm fades away, the game also has to prove that its gameplay mechanics are solid and that its in-game world is varied enough to keep people occupied for more than one month. After all, the game is a MMO and monthly subscriptions are what drive a MMO and its success.
At this point, it seems that the combat system is the section of Age of Conan that most people see as the biggest attraction but, as time goes by, expect to see more reports regarding the lore of the game and the world it is set in.